Lindberg’s Corsair

Charles Lindberg is most known by his solo flight over Atlantic in 1927 but his aviation career was much larger. Born in Detroit 1902, from the early age he show interest in mechanic and before school he show much interest in aviation. At the age of 18 years, he entered the University of Wisconsin to study engineering. In 1924, Lindbergh enlisted in the United States Army so that he could be trained as an Army Air Service Reserve pilot. For his Atlantic flight, President Calvin Coolidge gave Lindbergh the Congressional Medal of Honor and the Distinguished Flying Cross.

While in Europe, Lindbergh was invited by the governments of France and Germany to tour the aircraft industries of their countries. Lindbergh was especially impressed with the highly advanced aircraft industry of Nazi Germany. In 1938, Hermann Goering, a high Nazi official, presented Lindbergh with a German medal of honor. Lindbergh’s acceptance of the medal caused an outcry in the United States among critics of Nazism. Actually, his visit to Germany give excellent intelligence information about their front line fighter Bf 109.

In April 1944, Lindbergh went to the Pacific war area as an adviser to the United States Army and Navy and he flew about 50 combat missions. Among the planes he flew, was also F4U-1A Corsair. That was Vought F4U-1A, BuNo 49845, in summer 1944. Lindberg flew this Corsair during his tour of the Pacific combat zone. Through not a Naval officer, the ‘000’ markings identified this F4U as his personal ‘Blue Goose’. He flew as a representative of the United Aircraft Company. He demonstrated the technical aspects of what the Corsair was capable of doing.

Plane was camouflaged in standard three tone camouflage. ANA 606 Semi Gloss Blue upper surface with ANA 607 Non Specular Sea Blue on the upper of the wings, ANA 608 Non Specular Intermediate Blue on vertical tail and side fuselage, later painted over with Sea Blue. Outer wing bottoms are in ANA 608 Non Specular Intermediate Blue. At that time that Corsair was assigned to Roi-Namur, Kwajelein. That Corsair was assigned to VMF-224 (confirmed by the aircraft history card) and carried the three digit numbers in the location on the nose uniquely used only by VMF-224.

This project would not be possible to do without great influence and help of my friend Tom Doll, who s for sure best expert for US Navy and Marines history (as well camouflage, marking…). I gain much info during the work on his book ‘Blue Goose’. I have also design decals by my self and they are printed by Hobbyshop. With decals released by Hobbyshop from Czech Republic, making of this kit is not problem at all. Decals are available in all scales and they are small series printed on wide decal film, so take care to trim decal before put in water.

Srecko Bradic